I did know about the ability to turn off certain genes, only because of research I've been following where they turn off the gene (or set of genes) that allow us to store extra food as fat. They can turn it off in lab mice, allowing them to eat as much as they want without gaining weight. The drawback is if they stop eating for any length of time, they will die quickly.
Now if we can actually figure out what all of the various genes actually do, maybe this will be more useful. Right now, we only really know the function of a few select genes/groups of genes. Even that information is not as specific as some would like to think.
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Date: 2006-01-18 05:37 pm (UTC)I did know about the ability to turn off certain genes, only because of research I've been following where they turn off the gene (or set of genes) that allow us to store extra food as fat. They can turn it off in lab mice, allowing them to eat as much as they want without gaining weight. The drawback is if they stop eating for any length of time, they will die quickly.
Now if we can actually figure out what all of the various genes actually do, maybe this will be more useful. Right now, we only really know the function of a few select genes/groups of genes. Even that information is not as specific as some would like to think.